4a Opinion Friday, October 20, 2000 For comments, contact Ben Embry or Emily Hughey at 864-4924 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com Perspective Many students misunderstand music therapy When I say I study music therapy at the University of Kansas, people always ask me the same question: "What is there to cheer about? Many students at the music therapy?" Many students at the University are not aware that such a degree is offered. Surprisingly, many of them have never heard about music therapy before. One cannot describe music therapy without a definition of music. Music is a series of sounds and silences organized through time, defined by humans as music. One of the most important characteristics of music is its pervasiveness in our daily life. Everything we do involves music in one way or another. We listen to music when we drive, clean the house, exercise and study. We also use it to mark important events when we sing at football games, at weddings and funerals. Music brings mean- Music brings meanings to certain circumstances. For instance, sound and musical effects always accompany the visual effects in movies. Consequently, the availability, accessibility and familiarity of music in our culture are what make music therapy powerful and nonthreatening. Incorporated with applications by a qualified professional music therapist, it becomes a viable and effective therapeutic medium. Varvara Pasiali guest columnist opinion@kansan.com So what exactly is music therapy? It is an established health profession similar to occupational therapy and physical therapy. Music therapists are board certified professionals who use music in therapeutic interventions to change behaviors. The goal of music therapy is to enhance the quality of life by developing, maintaining or remedating physical, psychological, cognitive and social functioning. Music therapists work with persons of all ages across a range of abilities and disabilities. They design their programs based on individual assessment, treatment planning and ongoing program evaluation. KU has a long tradition in music therapy. It began in 1946 with the first graduate music therapy program in the United States. The faculty members are all renowned researchers here and abroad. All of them are active members of the national professional organization, American Music Therapy Association. The association is a new organization resulting from the unification of the American Association for Music Therapy, founded in 1971, and the National Association for Music Therapy, founded in 1950. Getting a degree in music therapy is not an easy task. The curriculum is very demanding. Students have to take several courses that examine the influence of music on behavior. In addition, they take classes in music theory and history, conducting and instrument performance. They learn how to play guitar, percussion and band instruments. Moreover, music therapy students have to take courses in the biological and behavioral sciences. One of the degree requirements is that the students complete four semesters of clinical work and a six-month clinical internship upon completion of all required coursework. At the end of the clinical internship, the students qualify for taking the music therapy board certification exam. The music therapy students at the University have their own music therapy organization, called Music Therapy Student Association. The purpose of this group is to expand the knowledge and awareness of music therapy to the KU student body and the Lawrence community through related activities. The group is open to all KU students who are interested in promoting and learning about music therapy. The members organize many activities such as outreach community projects and local performances. Activities planned for this semester include performance recitals and singing carols at local nursing homes. The group invites and plays host to guest speakers who make presentations that are open to the KU community at large. The group has its own Web page, which includes information about the music thera py program at the University and about future group projects. In addition, it includes links to other music therapy sites. The URL is http://www.ukans.edu/~mtsa. The group's officers are always willing to answer questions about music therapy. Passall is a graduate student from Cypress. SUN-SENTIMEL SO FLORIDA Chan Lowe / TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES Heard on the Hill Should the University of Kansas have homecoming royalty? "Sure. I think that it could add to the week's activities and make homecoming a bigger deal." Marcus Bush Marcus Bush Hoffman Estates III., freshman "No, because homecoming should be about appreciating your school without focusing on one individual." Anna Drewry Lawrence senior "With all of the students at KU, it would be very difficult to choose the king and queen." Monica Hernandez Kansas City, Kan. loving "No, it would be extremely difficult to choose out of all the students that attend KU." Billy Wood Overland Park junior Perspective Mask alters interaction at party I did a little experiment last weekend. I went to a Masquerade Ball wearing a mask. Okay, so maybe you, the insightful reader, are saying to yourself, "Big friggin' deal!" Normally, I'd agree with you and scream at this piece of newsprint while I eat my corn flakes at 2 p.m. on a Wednesday. But, here he's the funny part — I was the only one! So, maybe I get a little too excited when it comes to parties ... especially theme parties ... especially theme parties with beautiful women. Yes, I kept my precious mask on and had a riot. Now, I wasn't wearing just any mask, you see. My "magic mask" (as I like to call it) was gold and sparkled with only two eye holes and a small slit for the mouth. It turned out to be the perfect size to slip a cigarette through (which made my night), and I could drink my gin and wore through a straw. I also wore a black bolo hat, so all you could see was a little blonde hair and my sideburns. This mask had no facial expression. It was a blank slate, giving absolutely nothing away about my face or personality. It was rather disconcerting for my mom, who could hear my voice but not see my wonderful, smiling face (OK, so those are her words). That moment, when I was cheerfully talking to an uncomfortable-looking Mom, was only a hint of what the remainder of my evening would be like. Eric Ohisen guest columnist opinion@khanan.com After walking in to the party and getting myself a drink, I went over to one of my buddies and introduced myself to the two young ladies he was speaking to. They both had slightly blank looks on their faces and shuffled their feet, afraid to maintain eye contact — the only part of my face they could see — but also not knowing where else to look. After enjoying this for a moment or two, I raised my mask, smiled and quickly lowered it again. They both smiled back and looked considerably relieved. Oddly enough, after showing my face only twice, I was accepted and treated normally by all of the friends of the three women on the dance floor. However, it was rather difficult to communicate with people. On the dance floor, I could use only body language. Facial expressions meant nothing; they were covered by the magic mask. Speaking to people posed another problem. I could use vocal inflections, but words took on multiple meanings without facial expressions to help communicate my intent. Continuing on my merry way, I wandered down to the dance floor and up to three young ladies. At first they shied away, but after I started dancing and raised my mask for a moment, they became much more comfortable. We danced for a while, and more people joined us. I began dancing with one very attractive young lady, and, for the first time, I did not see an uncomfortable expression on her face. We danced for a while and spoke words of true love: "So, uh, what's your name? Oh, cool. I'm Eric. Um, where are you from?" I met a lot of people that night, but it does me no good now. I saw one yesterday on campus, and I tried to say hello. She just gave me a blank stare, as if she'd never seen my face before. Of course, she hadn't. I even got the phone number of a certain young lady that night. However, I'm sure you're asking yourself the same question I'm asking myself: "Is it because of the mask, or is it because she couldn't see my face?" I guess I'll find out when I pick her up this weekend. Olsen is in a Utica, Neb., senior in political science and journalism. Editorial Diversity is more than numbers Universities must focus on diversity's real merit. Earlier this year, the University of Wisconsin at Madison doctored a brochure cover photo by inserting the image of an African-American student into an all-white crowd — a sobering reminder that universities across the nation are pursuing an image of ethnic diversity for the wrong reasons. Multiculturalism should be promoted for the sake of multiculturalism, not for the sake of image. Diverse ethnicity undoubtedly benefits a student body by bringing a wide variety of opinions, customs and backgrounds together. However, more than a few universities use the idea of diversity primarily as a selling point when recruiting new students. In the case of the University of Wisconsin, the Office of University Publications spent the summer looking for photos that represented diversity in the student body before settling on a cut and paste portrayal. Unfortunately, the student body at the university lacks the diversity that the brochure cover sought to show. Fewer than 10 percent of the school's 40,000 students were non-white in the fall of 1999, and only a little more than 2 percent of the student body was African American. This blatant manipulation of the truth indicates a larger trend among competitive universities toward an obsession with statistics. The University of Kansas, for example, promotes itself as an ethnically diverse institution with students from every state and 100 nations. The University's Web site and promotional brochures picture students of various ethnic backgrounds smiling and laughing. Campus, therefore, looks and appears to be diverse, but how diverse is a student body in which two of every three students are from Kansas? Statistics on minority enrollment have become a major selling point in the sales pitch universities give to prospective students. The focus needs to shift back to the primary reason multiculturalism enhances an academic institution — that students benefit from exposure to perspectives, ideas and cultures different from their own. Amanda Sears for the editorial board Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. The Kansan reserves the right to edit submissions, and not all of them will be published. Slanderous statements will not be printed. To read more, go to www.kansan.com. The UDK should list what rights the police officers and the drivers have when they are pulled over, so drivers can be prepared if they become a victim of racial profiling. --- - To the person who keeps insisting that Europeans brought civilization to the Americas: There are a lot of good anthropology classes at KU. Please take one. 图 The constant battle between the queer community of the University and its students reminds me daily of what a long way we have to go. 医 If you're not planning to vote,you're a moron. I hope that one day pro-lifers will realize that an unwanted pregnancy isn't always due to irresponsibility. 图 How do we not know there's a God? - - Every good dog deserves to get high. Attention Queers and Allies: No one cares what you do behind closed doors. Do you care what straight people do behind closed doors? - I bet there are homosexuals on the football team. 图 图 If you don't know the people having a party at Orchard Corners, don't show up. Coming Out Day a bad idea? One word: homophobe. 图 Why does Mrs. E's have to cost so much to a student not on a meal plan? - My dog has been snorting coke for years and has never made the front cover. - Take an anatomy class; there's a lot of logic to the theory that heterosexuality isn't a learned behavior. American society should show more respect to male nurses. How to submit letters and guest columns Letters: Should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the author's signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and hometown if a university student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions. Guest columns: Should be double- spaced typed with fewer than 700 words. The writer must be willing to be photographed for the column to run. All letters and guest columns should be e-mailed to opinion@kansan.com or submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Ben Embry or Emily Hughey at 864-4924. If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924. Editor ... Nathan Willis Managing editors... Chris Bormiger, Kristi Elliott Readers' rep ... Erinn Barcomb Opinion ... Ben Embry, Emily Hughey Sports ... Melinda Weaven Associate sports... Jason Walker Campus ... 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